The first Scottish school to 'opt-out' of local government control has been granted permission to return to local authority management.

Dornoch Academy in the Highlands gained self-governing status five years ago under the grant-maintained scheme introduced by the previous Conservative government.

Parents backed the decision in 1994 in an effort to turn the two-year secondary into what is now a five-year school with 160 pupils, in the face of reluctance from the then Highland Regional Council.

It was one of only two schools in the whole of Scotland that chose to opt out of education authority control.

However, the Labour Government has made clear its opposition to schools remaining outside local authority jurisdiction.

And the Scottish Executive's Education Bill proposes that self-governing schools should be returned to management by local authority.

Five-year status guaranteed

The academy has now decided to opt back into council control, with Highland Council guaranteeing that it can remain as a five-year institution.

The decision was welcomed by Scottish Deputy Education Minister Peter Peacock.

He said: "The school and Highland Council have worked effectively together to reach an outcome that is clearly in the best interest of all the pupils parents and teachers, at the school.

"Dornoch Academy can now look forward to rising standards and a positive future within the supportive framework of the local authority."

The academy's decision to return to council control means only one Scottish school continues to opt out - St Mary's Primary School in Dunblane.